Towel dispensing cabinet



April 1942- D. G. COWLIN 4 2379;032

TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET I Filed June 25, 1937 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. DONALD G. 'COWLIN ATTORNEY.

April 7, 9 b, G. c'owu 2,279,032

TOWEL DISPENSI NG CABINET x Filed June 25, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR. DONALD G. COWLIN BY g m W ATTORNEY.

A[mil 1 D. G. COWLIN I 2,279,032

TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET Filed June 25, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. DONALD G. COWLIN I 541W? WMZZZZ ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1942 TUNITED, STATES PATENT OFFIQE" 2,279,032 TOWEL DISPEnsING CABINET Donald G. Cowlin, Glendale, Calif. Application June 25, 1937, Serial No. 150,301

18 Claims;

provided to insure their transfer and isolated assembly for facile removal in bulk for laundermg.

. It is a principal object of the present invention to provide apparatus whereby each of a plurality of clean towels contained in a sanitary compartment may be removed from the compartment for use without requiring either contact of the towels with any unclean surface or the tangible manipulation by the user of any mechanism other than the towel to be used itself.

:Another object is to provide meansfor automatically bringing each towel into position for use from a storage of clean towels, the operation of which is dependent upon the return of previously used towels into the cabinet, thereby pre venting theft or careless distribution of towels after their use.

Another object is to provide a plurality of towels, each having one of their endssecured to a towel belt carried in and movable through a cabinet, and being disposed wtih respect to each other whereby they will overly some of the towels of said plurality, and protrude a uniform distance from under those towels which overly them, respectively.

Another object is to provide a clean surface of paper, fabric or the like at the mouth of the cabinet, over which the towels may be withdrawn for use, adapted to be replaced automatically for each towel.

Another object is to provide a means for automatically wrapping used towels in the cabinet to prevent their contact with clean towels thereincontained, or with parts of the machine with which clean towels may subsequently be brought into contact.

Other objects and salient features of myinvention, such, for example, as ease of operation, simplicity of construction, assembly of parts, expeditious installation and removal of the towels as a group for laundering, and individually for use; durability,-and efficient arrangement, will be obvious to those of skill in the art to which my invention appertains from an examination of the following description read in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the cabinet illustrating in broken elevation the towel carrying assembly; I Fig.3 is a side elevation of my invention with the end of the cabinet removed, illustrating the position of certain parts at rest;

.Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 taken at the opposite end of the device; a

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View through the towel-moving mechanism as normally positioned for withdrawal of a towel;

Fig. 6 is a view ofthe end of the towel-carrying drum as moved by the withdrawal of a towel from the position shown in Fig. 3, contrasting therewith the position of various parts at these two extremes of operative movement;

Fig. 7 is a broken front elevation of the supporting mechanism .on the inside of the wall for" a the paper rollers;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the paper-roll sup-, porting structure from within the cabinet;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the inner surface-of one side wall of the cabinet illustrating the means i for the pivoted support of the towel roll and the means for limiting the downward swing of the roll after the user releases a withdrawn towel from the position shown in Fig. 6 tothat depicted in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the composite towel drum with the towel belt removed, illustrating partly the relative disposition of the various bearings and principal moving parts;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a belt having a plurality of towels sewed thereto illustrating generally the means for securing the ends of the belt together;

Fig. 12 is a broken plan view of the towelbelt 7 shown in Fig. 11 depicting the to-wels as normally overlapping each other;

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate perspectively two modifications of the attachment of the towels to the belt with respect to each other.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numerals of which indicate similar parts throughout the several views, I5 designates a cabinet comprising side walls l6 and I l and a top I8. The front of the cabinet comprises an upper por-. tion l9 hinged to the top l8, and alower portion 20 hinged to a bottom 2!. The lower portion 20 is secured to the frame (not shown) of the cabinet as at 22 adjacent the lower edge of the upper portion. The lowerend of the upper portion I9 is recessed to form'a slot 24 in the front of the cabinet through which towels 25, carried by a belt 26, later referred to in detail, maybe withdrawn for use and subsequently returned into' the cabinet.

An open drum 21 comprising an arcuate wall 28 having its opposite ends closed'by end spiders 29 and 3fi,respectively, is'eccentrically pivoted in p and bottom of the cabinet, respectively between which the blocks 32 are slid through the fronteopen end of the bracket, and in which they are held against accidental displacement bypins 35 (Fig; 9); i v Within and; concentric withitheiwal1;282a cylir1-= der 36 is: disposed which is journalled in; the

. end-i spiders 29. and. 30 by pins '31- so as .ito rotate freely and provide an inside carrier for the :towel belt 26; later described Y From the opposite edges of the arcuatewall Pins 3| are rotatably mounted a distance substantially equal to the distance between their points of attachment 48 on the belt. In Fig. 13 the towels 49 are of double length and are secured to the belt 26 intermediate their ends, forming two reaches of each towel of unequal length. It will be apparent that when lying flat on the belt in a direction to the side I of the longest reach, the edges of the respective reaches will maintain substantially the same spaced. relationship aswhen: hanging from the belt as shown in Fig. 13. In Fig. 14 atransverse middle port-ion 50 of each of a plurality of double 7 length towels 49 is secured to the belt so that reaches of equal length will be spaced from each other- 'and-w-hen lying fiat on the belt their respective edges-will also assume spaced relationship. Ends of'the belt 26 are releasably fastened 28 the drum end spiders 29 and 30 arecorrespondingly extended as at 38 for the. support oifithe ends o'f'a curved closure plate: 39': which v overhangs the opening in the'drumbetween the edges of wall 28: The lower end'of plate. 39:.is centrally recessed as at 4ll for a purpose-hereinafterxdescribed. V 1

A drive-roller 4| is rotatably supported inbear; ings carriedin the upper. horizontally-aligned portions of the extensions38L-of. the end :spiders ZSxand 30" by means: of. a shaft 42,lits axis. being.

' parallel to that of cylinder 36 andin a' plane be? lowthe upper edgeof'arouate wall 28i andslightly outside of a: circle passing through saidwall. A; second driveiroller 43 parallelt'tottheroller 4| iszmounted on a shaft 44 journalledzin. the end:

together by a zipper 5| (Figs. 11 and 12) or by other means well known in the art.

' A t'owelbelt 26 is installed on the carrier assembly; (Comprising. wall'z28, cylinder 3irand'" rollers 4| and- 43) by; passing the forwardn endi.52 ofthe belt to the rear-and underthe'drunr 21-, over arcuate: wall 28' to and: between? the drive roller 4| and. guide 45*; rearwardlyg: under' the roller 4|, over the top: of cylinder; andtforward' toand over-roller "43 forattachment to the: opposite-rearward end 53'Ofl the belt by means; of zipper- 5|; As above dsecribed;the-towels overelie; each other and: extend obliquely rearward.

. from= their pointof attachment to'thebelhwitli spiders 29 and 30 adjacent the1recess: 4|l-in1closure plate39 and normally inlizeriti'calz alignment with roller 4|, i. e., when the recess fand.slot".

2-4: in the cabinet are nearestadjacenteach other.

Eachdrive roller 4| and 43.:isroughened or covered jwith sandpaper lor thedikeitof frictionally; engage the fabric.ofltowel'belt' 26z Azsemiecir cular: guide 45 is provided;.having; its' opposite ends securedv to the end spiders: 291' and:3ll;.-and1 extends downwardly from the upper edgeiof cloe sure plate 39, between said platevand roller-4| with= whichlit is concentric. From thelowen end of guide 46', asecond guide 41 similarly supported by the endspiders, extends. laterally,: overrollern 43, and: a portion thereof is spacedafrom and concentric with roller 43, terminating slightly below:

the. upper end of recess 45-in-closureplate39:

A plurality of towels 25 preferably of ,equall length, are provided,- each having one of their ends sewed or otherwise secured on a belt' 2Bv in any manner well known.in:the art'whichuwill'j permit the I unattached edge? of ea'chutowel. when lying substantially flat on the belt to protrude slightly from.-under those towels overlying it, In Figs. 11', I3 and 14 three embodimentspermitting: this'di'sposition of the towels; are illustrat'ed;. Reierring to' Fig. 11, a plurality-of towels 25toffiany uniform length desired for individualuse aref'ea'ch'. secured at one end'fto :thebelt: in spaced; relation. to: eachother. as at 48 Whem lyingifiat on thebelt theircendsi will spaced respectzto the forward end52'thereof-r The? belt is-=moved; by means-later referred to, in'the'direc,-' tion just described to successively bring the free ends of .eachof the towels finto. alignment F with A: supporting-bracket 54-fon the. en'dlofl a: pain of rollers1 is secured to eaclr side-of the-cabinet adjacent; to, and horizontally aligned .wlthaslotw 24 in\ the front of the cabinet, Each bracket: 54 comprises an upwardly directed: u shap'edmeme ber 55 spacedtfrom and. secured: tothe walls: G and I! of the cabinet in any well knownmannerl Pirr extensions 56- at opposite'endsofl and concentric, with the roller 51 are; journalledr in the-bottom of the U-shaped: member 55s to; re:- tatively; support the roller horizontallypslightlg abovevthe lower edge of slot 24;. Alrollerf 58 carrying a roll of paper. 60 is; supportedaonr guide roller 51 and is provided at Opposite ends t thence downwardly andrearwardly toythevlowerl end; of-= the cabinet where it passes lover another roller 6 horizontally journalled' in the-:lower side walls |6.and I! of the cabinets From: the roller 6| the paper extends upwardly to? the, rearward end. of the towel belt -25r to l which itis, secured:

It willbe apparent that placemenlt'ofrthetowel belt on-lthedrive rollers 4| and 43': and: the drum 21 in a position with the forward endzot I thebelt underthe drum t-heiireeendwof the'first towel (thetoweli nearest adjacent": the: forward end 52 of the belta will have beenmoved: from unden the guide 412 and; will; berbelow the: upper endqoi. the? recess 40 :where: it may' be grippediby a prospective user. The edges of the -towel"drawn from. under: the guide '41 by the movementof the belt will then be releasablyretained onthe roller 43- 1 by the lower; side edges of" theplate 39- at opposite sides of the recess 40''. Bygrippingithe towel edge inthe' recess 40; the use! may draw the towel fromunder the lower sides of the plate 39, over the paper on roller 58, and through slot 24, causing the entire drum and towel belt 26 to swing counterclockwise on pins 3| to a position with the point of attachment of the withdrawn towel to the belt, adjacent to the roller 58 and slot 24 (Fig. 6), which enables use of the entire length of the towel by the user. Upon release of the towel by the user, the drum, due to its eccentric point of pivot and weight of the drive rollers 4| and 43 and associated mechanism on the forward side of the drum, will swing back to its originalposition, drawing the released, soiled towel through the slot '24 and into the cabinet. Used towels will hang freely from the belt as is indicated in the drawings at 62 (Fig. 5). As the forward end of the belt is moved over the wall 28 toward roller 4| the used towels 62 will overly each other in the same manner as the fresh towels, and will be separated from the fresh towels, securedto the rearward end of the belt, by a paper covering from roll 60, as will be hereinafter more in detail described.

D' uring withdrawal of the first towel from the slot 24 for use as just above described, the belt is moved slightly in the direction above indicated to cause the movement of the unattached end of the second towel from under guide 41 for engagement and withdrawal by a user.

To effect this operation, a fixed bar 63 is rigidly connected to one of journal blocks 32, and extends obliquely rearward and downward therefrom. A curved connecting arm 64 is pivoted to the lower end of bar 63 having its upwardly curved opposite end pivoted to the middle of a normally vertical rocker arm 65, which in turn v 'is pivoted at opposite ends to cranks 66 and '61.

Cranks 66 and 61 are pivotally connected to shafts 42 and 44 of the rollers 4| and 43, respectively. On the end of shaft 42 and 44, adjacent the pivotal attachment of respective cranks, ratchet wheels 68 and 69 are non-rotatably mounted. A spring-pressed pawl Ill is pivoted to each crank 66 and 61 to engage and cause rotation in a clockwise direction of the ratchet wheels 68 and 66 and their respective rollers upon their actuation in a manner about to be described. 7

As the drum is swung counterclockwise in response to the tension applied to the belt 26 by a user in withdrawing a towel from the cabinet, the connecting arm 64, being pivoted at one end. to fixed arm 63, draws the rocker arm 65 toward the axis of the drum 21 at 3| so as to arcuately swing the crank arms 66 and 6'! on the shafts 42 and 44, respectively. The ratchet wheels 68 and 69 and rollers 4| and 43 will be, coincidentally, partially rotated in the same direction by pawls 16 which engage behind teeth on the respective ratchet wheels.

It will be observed that as the free ends of thetowels are moved adjacent the slot 24 in response to successive operations of the machine, the plate 39 and guide 41 cooperate in maintaining the ends of the towels overlying one another and in position for facile engagement by the fingers of the prospective user.

On the opposite ends of the drive rollers 4| and 43, exterior of the drum, their respective shafts are provided with rigidly mounted pinions H. Between the pinions II, a spur gear 12 is journalled on the end spider 30, which gear 72 engages with the pinions A squared shank I3 integrally connected with the spur gear 12 extends through the adjacent side wall of the cabend of the next-to-beused towel will be adjacent slot 24 to permit its withdrawal therethrough, requires that means be provided to limit this freturn motion. To this end a guide rail 15 is secured horizontally to the side wall I! of the cab-. inet so as to project laterally therefrom. Attthe forward end of the rail 15 a vertical lug l6 ispro-, vided through which a screw 11 is threaded having pivotally secured to its threaded end an abutment 18, against which a stop 19, secured to the adjacent end spider 30, will abut when the towel assembly is at rest. Exact adjustment'of the limit of the clockwise motionof the towel carrier assembly may -be effected by rotation of the screw 11 in a manner well known'in the art. At the inner end of the rail 15 opposite tolug 16, a fixed abutment 86 is secured toward which a stop 8|, secured to the end spider 3|] a distance, in a clockwise direction from the abutment, substantially equal to the length of the individual towels employed, will be moved as the drum 2! is swung counterclockwise in response to the withdrawal of a towel. Thus when the end of the towel which is attached to the belt reaches slot 24 upon withdrawal by a user, stop 8| will contact abutment 80, preventing an excessive counterclockwise movement of the drum which might result in jamming of the towels against the wall of the cabinet.

The paper from roller 58 having its end secured to the rearward end of belt 26, will be unreeled as the belt is moved in response to the urge imparted thereto resulting from withdrawal of the towels, due to the outer end of the paper being drawn'with the end of'the belt towardlrecess 40. When all towels have been used, the forward end of the belt will again bepositioned under the drum and the paper from roller..58 will have formeda covering over all towels which will at this period of operation extend over the lower drive roller 43 (preventing withdrawal of used towels from the cabinet) around the cylinder'36, under and over the used towels on drive roller 4| over the arcuate wall and thence downwardly under roller 6| to paper carrying roller 58. It will accordingly be seen that the paper performs the three-fold function of providing a cleanpaper surface for each towel at the slot 24 over which the towels are withdrawn; separating the used towels from the unused towels by forming a paper sheath over themas the belt moves along its course through the carrier, and returns to the lower roller 43 and slot 24 so that the usedtowels will be covered by the sheath to prevent'withdrawal and repeated use; and further, prevents contamination of the parts of the machine by matter deposited on the towels at the time of their use which would in turn contaminate clean towels placed in the machine with the installation of a new belt.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that numerous changes maybe made in size, shape, proportion and number of the parts; the lower paper roller may be eliminated; and towels of any length may be employed with a corresponding variance in the swing of the carrier assembly upon with- What: I, claim and desire to secure by Letters Batent-is: r

1. In a deviceof thelcharacterdescribed; a cabinet 'having acslot'. therein, a drum: journalled horizontally: within said cabinet; adjacent said slot: having an opening therein parallel. to: the longitudinal axiszofisaidi'd'rum; a drive roller car ried by saidzdrum" adj acent: said opening therein; alcylinder'journalled withinrsaididrwn, an endalessr towel belt; extending 1 over .said drum and drive roller and; betweensai'd; drum and cylinder, and:;a plurality of? towels carried 'onsaidbelt;

2.IIn a device of the character'described,, a cabinet: having a slot therein, a towelv carrier comprising, a drum: having; an opening: therein parallel-Jtotheilongitudinaljaxis of said drum, a cylinderz'journalledi in.'said drum, means connectedto; saidpdrurn OfiSGtxWlth' respect to the longitudinal axis: of" the drum to journal said drum withinsaid-I cabinet, atowel belt overlying the walls of saidgdrum; and; theportion: of; said cylinder covered by: the wall of said drum, a plurality of towels: having: one; of their: endssecured;to-. said towel :belt and the other: end unattached,, and means to move; said towel belt overrsaid drum. and: cylinder and: adjacent said slot in said: cabinetito: bring the unattached. end of each;of; saida towels successively'adjacentto and into alignment? with said; slot inasaidicabinet. '3: In acdevice'of thercharact'er described; a

cabinet having; aislott therein,. a; drum.- member 7 carried by and 1 within" "said, cabinet'r adjacent said slot, tan endless'towel beltxcarried' om said: member, a plurality of towels each havingone' of their ends secured to said towel belt; means:- to movesaidv towel belt on said' member adjacent said slot, andmeans'tozhold-f'tlie towels'rin .a po-. sition partiallyl overlying" oneanother: as' said towels are moved adjacentlsaidislot; i v

4. In a device oflthech'aracten described,- a' cabinet having a slot therein, a towel belt; apairrof; towels each:liaving one of their: edges secured; to portions of; said towel belt spaced from each other a distance 'less than. the length ot'said towels, means to: normally maintain a pcrtionx of". eacli:v of said. towels substantially parallel.ato:said belt; a drum journalled in said cabinet; to". carry: said belt, means to i move said belt over saiddrum to bringtheunattached end of one of said towels adjacentl said slot for withdrawaland 'use; said drum being movable b cwithdrawal of a towel to bring the attached end: of the? withdrawn towel adjacent said slot; andsmeans to moveisaid drum and belt to a po-- sition where the unattached edge'of anotlier of saidltowelsisadjacent said slot. r

5'. In a device? of thecharacter described; a cabinet having a: slot therein, a towel belt, apluralityof towels; each having. one'of their ends secured: to said belt; meanswithin said cabinet to; carry-said? towel beltland towels, means to' move'said beltito positions with respect to the slotzin sai'd cabinet t'o successivel'y'bring' each of said' towelsnin a position for-withdrawal 'from the cabinet, said last-mentioned ma'ns being intermittently actuated: by successive withdrawal of: the. towel, means to -movesaid' belt. to cause return: of: said'towelii'nto said cabinet after withdrawal; a; roller, 2, sheet'reeled upon saidroller, the outer, end' of said sheet being secured to said towel belt, said sheetsbeing: unreeled by: move"- ment of said towel belt to covensaid: towels-after cabinet having a slot therein, a drumlhaving am opening therein" paralleluto its; longitudinal axis, means-to journal said drum in said cabinet substantially parallelzwith and adj acentto. said slot in said cabinet, acylinder journalled within said ,drum', drive rollers journalled' respectively in the endsrof' said drum;adjacent each edge of the peripheralwall of-saiddrumzforming said opening therein, an endless towel belt, a plurality of towels, each having onec-of its ends secured to saidr towel belt whereby each of saidtowels will overly; other of said towels and protrude from under those which overly, it respectively, said towel belt beingdisposed-on said drum over said rollers and overthe'portion of said cylinder inclosed by the peripheral wall: of' said" drum,,,retaining means to hold the: towels on said belt whichware nearest adjacent said slot in, position substantially fiat against said belt and substantially parallel with respect to each other, drive means to move: said drive rollers tocause movement ofsaid belt? in the direction opposite to that, in which saidltowels are inclined'with respect to their point of attachment to said belt, and cause thesuccessive withdrawal of the free edges of ,said'towels from under said retaining" means, said drum being movablein a directionopposite-to the movement of the outer portions of said towelbelt by-said drive means to successively-bring the respective pointszof attachment of feach: of said-towels adjacent said slot in said-cabinet, means to cause return movement of said drum and belt fromrthe last-mentioned". position; said last-mentioned, movement causing the: return' of a used towel into the cabinet through the slot therein and further, causing bycooperationwith: said drive means to-successively; bring: theunattached. end: of each towel into alignment with said slot in the cabinet; arroller journalled in said cabinet; a sheet carriedon said roller having itsrouter, end secured to said belt to separateusedztowelsfrom unused towels. e

'7.'In adevicez-off thacharacter described; a cabinet having a: slot therein, aitowel belt, a plurality of towels" each having one of its ends secured to* said belt; means to normally, hold eachof'saidtowels in'. a position overlying other of said towels and protruding from under those which overly it respectively, the oppositeend' of each'of said'towels being unattached, a carrier for said belt'within said cabinet to successively support the unattached end of'each of said towels adjacentfsaid' slot for withdrawal from said. cabinet and-use, means to move said'belt with respect to :said: carrier to bring successively the free end ofieach. of said towels to a position on said adjacent carrier f'or' support thereby at said slot, said last-named means. operating' to move said belttopositionsawith the points ofattachment to the belt of respective towels when partially withdrawn for use adjacent the slot.

8; Ina device of the character described, a cabinet; a. towel belt in said cabinet, carrier means to supportsaid towel belt 'in said cabinet, a plurality of'towels'eachthaving one of their ends'securedto said belt," the other end of each of said towels being unattached, and means to hold said towels1in" positions whereby each of saidtowels will overly other: of'said towels and protrude from under those: towels which: overly it-re'spectively, and means to move said belt to successively bring the point of attachmentof each towel to the belt and the protrudingportion of each towel adjacent the-slot, said carrier beingshiftable in said cabinet to-reverse-thedirection of movement of said towel belt adjacent said slot.

9. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a slot therein, a belt, a plurality of towels each having one of their ends secured to said belt, a carrier for said belt including means to move the same adjacent said slot and successively move the unattached ends of said towels adjacent said slot, and a guide stationary relative to said last-named carried to successively engage said unattached ends of towels adjacent said slot to hold the towels in extended positions on said belt respectively during engagement therewith.

10. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a slot therein, a belt, a carrier for said belt movably mounted in said cabinet, a towel having one portion thereof attached to said belt, means connected to said carrier to normally hold said towel in extended position on and substantially parallel to said belt, and means to move said belt to successively bring said attached portion of said towel and an unattached end of said towel adjacent said slot.

11. In a device of the character described, a cabinet, a towel carrier pivoted in said cabinet, a belt supported on said carrier, a plurality of towels each having one of their ends attached to said belt, drive means to move said belt on said carrier, and means actuated by movement of said carrier relative to said cabinet to actuate said drive means.

12. In a towel dispensing apparatus, a cabinet having a slot therein, a belt-carrier mechanism for movably supporting said belt adjacent said slot, a roller mounted in said cabinet parallel to said slot, a sheet reeled on said roller having one end thereof connected to said roller and its opposite end connected to said belt whereby movement of said belt relative to said carrier mechanism unreels said sheet so as to cover towels on said belt within said cabinet.

13. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a slot therein, a towel, means connected to one end of said towel to move the unattached end of said towel adjacent said slot for manual withdrawal of said towel through said slot, a roller mounted in said cabinet parallel and adjacent said slot, a sheet reeled on said roller with which the towel contacts upon withdrawal of the towel through said slot, means to unreel said sheet, and means to synchronize the operation of said first-named and said lastnamed means.

14. In a device of 'the character described, a cabinet having a slot therein, an endless towel belt, a plurality of towels attached to said belt, means to move said towel belt and towels adja- .said drive means and said cent said slot, and means connected to said belt for movement therewith to sheath said towels successively upon being moved with the portions of said towel belt to which they are attached, respectively, from adjacent said slot.

15. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a slot therein, a towel carrier journalled in said cabinet adjacent said slot com-' prising a drum having a cylinder within said drum and an endless towel belt extending over a portion of said drum into said drum and between said drum and cylinder, and a plurality of towels carried on said drum.

16. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a slot therein, a towel belt, a towel having one of its ends secured to said towel belt and having its other end unattached, means to successively move the portion of said belt to which said towel is attached and subsequently the unattached end of said towel, respectively, adjacent said slot, and means actuated by tension applied to said towel to return the portion of said belt to which the towel is attached adjacent said slot.

17. In a device of the character described,.a cabinet having a slot therein, a towel belt,-a plurality of towels each having one of their ends secured to said towel belt, a carrier for said belt Within said cabinet, means to move said belt over said carrier to bring the unattached edges of said towels adjacent to said slot, said carrier being actuated by withdrawal of a towel from said slot for use to move said beltadjacent said slot in a direction opposite to the movement of the belt by said means, a roller journalled in i said cabinet adjacent said slot over which said towels are moved upon withdrawal, a sheet reeled upon said roller, and means actuated by said first-named means to unreel said sheet as said belt is. moved relative to said carrier.

18. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a slot therein, an endless towel belt, a pair of towels each having one of its ends secured to said towel belt and its opposite end unattached, carrier means to support said belt and said towels with the unattached edge of one of said towels adjacent said slot, drive means associated and cooperating with said carrier means to displace the last-named towel from adjacent said slot, said belt being movable by carrier means to bring the unattached edge of the other of said towels adjacent said slot and to move the unattached edge of said first-named towel past said slot, and a non-absorbent sheet operatively connected to said belt to overly said first-named towel upon its movement past said slot.

DONALD G. COWLIN. 

